Fluid-meter.



A. R DODGE.

FLUID METER.

M w .PPLIOATION FILED SEPT. 25, 1909.. kmq; Mg; Patented Feb. 24, 1914.

1 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

A il

USTIM R. 17055;?.y l :EY

M R: BUDG. FLUID METER. APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 25, 1909.

atenzed Feb. 24,

L itil: @www Y www Y E A. R. DODGE.

FLUID METER.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 25, 1909.

@atented Feb. 24;, i9144 4\SHEBTSSHEET 3.

A. R. DODGE.

FLUID METER.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 25, 190s.

Lwm. Patented Feb. 24,1914.

4 SHEETS-*SHEET 4.

lmvfentorf Must'nRDodge. b5 ayd/m...

Witness non anamne- FLUD-METIR.

npcciceton of Lettere Patent.

Application filed September 25, 1509.

ltla'tented tteb. inflat..

serial no. maree.

The object ot the invention is to provide nuzirh will accurately indicate or rd or both indicate and. record the flow luid through a main in a given unit. or

of? time. such meter being simple in roes ru( ion and reliable in operation and i ly to get out ot order.

consideration o what .l believe `.-.c novel and mj inve n. attention is Aiecification ,rnd the claims appended thei to.

tn 'the accon'ipanying dran'f'v which are illustrative ol one at the embodiments of my inventiont l? v a View in side elci'ution of an elastic plan View of the name, Fig. 3 a diagrammatic View ot the tilting ne lier and the motion multiplyiup,l connection between it and the indicator; Fig'. =l is a detail View bowing the balancingv weights tor the intor and its supliorting arm; Fig. 5 is a sure correction deis a horizontal section of a fluid l, main showing the Pilot plug in plaee; T a detail View o the jointhetneen the indicator carrying1 arm and its porting and :ustuatinal bell-crank lever; is a detail View ol one oit the flci'lible I wiertioiis employed toconveylluid pressure om the main to the tilting` member; Fig. 9 .a a section on line Elma? 8; Fig. l() is tion on line lttwlt) oit Fig. 8; and Fig. a detail View of a portion of the chart.

'The meter comprises a D voted or tilting member responsive to changer in the rate of den' ot the. tluid being metered and having ronueeted merciunf-containing rups and a motion nndtiplyingj means connected to and actuated by said member. The movements oit said means away from the. initial position ai made in opposition to detail View ot the pr l meter; Fig. 2 ie weicht or equivaof flow at. any given instant, an indicator, such as a point/er, pen or equivalent device is provided that is moved over a suitable chart or scale by said means. llo record the movements of the indicator it is arranged to make a mark or other indication on the chart. or scale and the latterl is driven or moved by a. suitable means such as a cloclr. 'Fluids7 especially steam, iowing through mains are subject to pressure iai'iations and to compensate for such changes a means sensitive to pressure is provided that controls or actuates a pressure correction device, such as the weight or emiivalent. means -another function of which has been referred to, which in turn modifies the action of the tilting or pivoted member having; the mercury cups by opposing; to a Qreater or less extent certain movements of the motion multiplying` mechanism. Generally speaking the pressure responsive device will make the meter read higher upon an increase in Dres-sure and lower on a decrease in pressure.

12 indicates the base of the meter and mounted thereon is a. standard or support 13 having a central )art llt that supports the seat 15 for the kni 'e-edgc pivot. oit the tilt ing member. and arms 16 and 1T that supports seats or form bearings for other parts ot the movingsystem as will appear later. The meter depends for its ope ation on a tilting member comprising a bridge piece 18 and mercury containing cups 19 and 20, the latter being` connect-ed byl the conduit 2l at their lower ends. l? luid pressure is admitted to the mercury cups by the flexible metallic connectimis` Q2 and made of tubes haring flattened sides. Tube 22 is connected to the low pressure side of the System and tube to the high. The lower or inner end et the low pressure tube Q2 is connected to the head ot the lett-hand mercury cup 19 and the upper or outer end to the head 24. The lower or inner end 01" the high pressure tube Q25 is connected to the head on the righthand mercury cup Q() and the upper or outer end to the head 24. said head being carried by a vertical support 25 at the back ot the meter. The tubes and 23 are made in the torni ot tlexible and elongated coils ,so as t-c eliminate t'ar as p faible any opposition to movement ot' the tilting; member. rllhe mercury cups and their cooperating parts are balanced'as completely as possible. Ani adjustable counter-balance 26 mounted on I and parts.

recting means at least one part is eliminated, and tiie meter is thereby rendered more simple and reliable.

The parts of the meter are accessible both for the purpose of inspection and adjiistnient which is a valuable feature in commercial work. Owing to the character of the parts and the connections between them the movements or" the tilting member are transmitted to the indicator with minimum friction and lost motion, both ot' which teatures malte for accuracy of the meter readings. The meter may be calibrated t'or direct reading so that special skill on the part of the user is unnecessary. The instrument portable and no special iittiiigs are required in the' main that conveys the fluid -be ing metered although it is capable of use with such fittings it desir-ed. llhen the l-itot plug is used iis the agent it requires only one tapped hole inI the main and this is comparatively small and inexpensive to malte. rilbe meter may be kept in service :ill of the time or shutoil' by valves in the pipes'leading to ii' trom the agent. The balancing ot' the parts is so tull and complete and the movements are so sensitive to changes in the rate oi' flow that no correction for error is necessary.

When the service conditions are such that the pressure of the liiiid beingl metered is constant. or substantially so, the `Bourdon tube and its cooperating parts can be omitted. Under' these conditions the weight i8 may be securedto the arm all) at the point where it would be held by said tube lli'hen it becomes necessary or desirable 'to conipensiite tor changes in superheat, the position ot the weight i8 may be changed by iii'ljiisting the posiiion of the drum G0 on the spindle 5S. lt will he noted that the main lever 2T extends substantially parallel to the bridge piece 18 ot the tilting member. thai. the arm 4f) of' the lever 35i extends 'downwardly and is substantially parallel to the mercury cups, and that the arm 3S carrying the marker .39 extends to thelct't toward the point ot' connection' between the tilting member and the main lever 2T. This arrangement results in a meter which is extremely'simple and conipact and one in Which the travel of the marker from zero to maximum oW positions is so great that the chart can be readily read while the movement of the mercury containing member is relatively small. By mounting the bearing for the knife edge of the tilting member and those for the knife edges 34 and 37 andfspinclle 5S on the saine casting perfect alinementof the parts is assured at all times. y

ln accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes, I have described the principles of the operation of my invention, together with the apparatus which I now consider to represent the best embodiment thereof; but l desire to have it lunderstood that the apparatus shown is only illustrative, and that the invention can be carried. out by oiher means.

What I claim as ne and desire to secure h v Leiters Patent ot' the United States, is'- 1. ln a liuid meter, the combination of a. member adapted to be moved in response to changes in the rate of flow of the iluid' being metered, :in indicator, a motion multiplying means 'tor transmitting movements of the member to the indicator, a weight acting on some portion ot the means which has a greater movement than said member to oppose its movments from the initial position, and a device with which the indicator cooperates to shoiv the flow.

2. ln a iiuid meter. the combination oi' a member adapted to he moved in response 3. in a iiuid meter, the combination ofa member movable in response to changes in the rate of flow ot the fiuid being metered. an indicator, means transmitting the movements of the member to the indicator, a device acting on said means which opposes the movements of the member bv progres ysivel'v increasing amount-s as the indicator movesI Vfrom its initial position. and means 'for adjusting said device to compensate for changes in the condition ot the iuid being metered.

-fl-. In a Huid meter, the combination of a member adapted to be moved in response to changes in the rate ot' liow of the fluid `being metered, an indicator, means transniitting ilie -iovements of the member to the indicator. a device acting on said means which opposes the movements ot' the inember by progressivelyi increasing amounts as the indicator moves Afrom its initial posiinmensa tien, and a means sensitive to pressure L `indicator, a Weight ivliicb as it. is moved away from its initial position offers resist ance to tbe movement of said member, a device for suspending;` tbe Weight so that it can act on said means, and means responsive to changes in a condition 'ot tbe tlnid that varies tbe etiieetive length of' said suspension device.

tl. ln a lluid meter, the combination of a I member adapted to be moved in response to changes in the rate of flow of the finiti beingI metered, a Qivot about 'which 'the member moves, an indicator, means iter tiansinitting movements oli tile member to 'tbe indicator ivliicli means includes a lever, a pivot tor tbe lever arranged intermediate its ends, a cou- `neo'tion between one arm of tlielever and said member, a lever arranged substantially at right angles to tbe tirst lever, a connection between the other arm ot the lirst level' and tbc second lever. and a Weight act-ingl on said second lever which offers resistance to its movement by said member as the rate of' flow ot' tbc tiuid beine,r metered. increases.

T. lin a tluid meter, the combination ot' a member adapted to be moved in response to changes in the rate ot tloiv of tbe tluid being metered, an indi ator, means comprising; articulated levers 'tor transmitting movements ot the member to tbe indicator, a weight that rests on one ot the levers and as it swung to one side oi. its initial position progressively increases its opposition to move meut ot lever `,vitii which it, engages, and a means for suspending tbe weight.

8, ln a tluid meter, tlie combination of a member adapted to be moved in response to changes in libe amount ot' fluid flowing in a main in a given unit of time, an ini'licator, means including a lever for transmitting movements ot' the member to tbe indicator, a weight that` acts on the lever and as it is moved away from its initial position ott'ers a progressively increasing opposition to movement of the lever. means for suspending the weight, and a guide tor tbe weight.

t). ln a tluid meter, tbe combination ot a tilting member, means for tilting: the meinber, an indicator, a mot-ion multuglying means tor transmitting movements oi the member to tbe indicator comprising' a lever having arms ot unequal lengtli, and a connection between tbc niemloe and tbe shorter arm ot' tbe lever, and a means acting` on tbe part; ot said motion multiplying means ivliich bas tbe greatest movement tor opposl ing its movements an position.

'l0'. ln a Atluid meter, the combi ation ott a tilting;- member, means tor conveying,l Huid under pressure to the member, an indicator, a motion multiiilyingl means for transmit ting n'iovements ot' the member to the indicatrr. and an adjustable means noting' on tbe part ot the motion multiplying means tliatis connected to the indicator for opposing its increments aivay from its initiai position.

ll. ln a Yfluid meter, the combination ot a tilting member, means tor tilting` 'tbe mem-y ber. an indicator, a motion multiplyingmeans comprising articulated levers leaving arms ot di'tt'erent. lengths and tra1 mnittingi movements o tiie member to the icator, and a connection between tbe sl'mrt arm oi.2 one lever and lilic longr arm of the other, and means acting; on tlie lever arm having greatest moveme to oppose its movement in a given direction.

1Q. lu a lluid meter, tbe combination tiltingi` member, means 'for carryingv finiti i; der pressure to tbe member, an indicator., a pivotally supper-teil lever, .an articulated connection between tbe lever and one side oit tlie member, and a means actuated, by tbe lever tor moving` tbe indicator.

13. ln a tluid meter, the combination ot tilting member, means for tilt-ing the mem ber, an indicator, a chart, an arm tor mov in c the indicator aero s tlie cliart, means tuated by tbe member tor moving; tbe erro said means comprisinI a lever tcrl'nediate its ends, a connection bet-Ween member and crank lever. a` connection between tbe oil arm ot tbe irst lover and tlie l' lever. and a pivotal connection lait-Weer bella-rankP lever and tbe indicator llt. lin a lluid meter, tac combination et! tilting member, means tor tilting; tbe m ber, an indicator, an arm :tor movingi dicator in a given plane across a 'cliar" "chart, a motion nmltiplying means connwK ed to tbe meniber 'l'or moving' the i, said means includiin; a pivoted lever, and a oral connection between the lever and a rm wbicli permits tbe lever to move in an are and the indicating device to have a right line movement.

15. lu ay luid meter, tbe combination oil. a member adapted to be moved in resnonee to changes iu tbe rate ot llow ot tbe fluid beine' Y metered, 'an irulicator, means ttor transini tintA tbe moveuu-nts of tbe member to tbe ii dicator and comprising a two-armed .lei f a iveig'bt carried by one arm o'tf tbe lever tliat tends to oppose the movement ot tbe mendaci', and a counterlialancing means tor tbe indicator carried by tbe other arm ot tbe lever.

away from its initial .i U rind one arm ot tbe lever, a bei lili 16. In a iluid meter, the combination o a member adapted to be moved in response to changes in the rate ot liow of the fluid beingl metered, an indicator, an arm supporting the indicator, a motion multiplyingmeans tor transmit-ting motion from the member to the arm and indicator which includes a bellcrank lever having` one arm arranged substantiallyvertical, a weight carried by said vertical arm that tends to oppose the movement oi" the member, and a counterbalancing means carried b v the other arm ot' the lever.

17. in a fluid meter, the combination of a tilting member, means for tilting the member, a support tor the member,'a lever, a pivotal support' therefor, a connection between the lever and the member, a second lever, means connecting the two levers, said second lever having a substantiall;7 vertil" cal arm, av weight carried b v said arm that tends to oppose its movement away from a vert-ical position, an indicator, and an arm connected to the second lever which supports the indicator.

18. ln a fluid meter, the. combinationot' a tilting member provided with a bridgel piece carrying containers, each containing a tluid heavier than that being metered., a support on which the bridge piece is pivoted intermediate the containers, conduits admitting fluid under prcssureto the containers, a conduit connecting the containers, a pivoted lever having unequal arms, a link connecting the shorter arm of the lever with one end o1 the bridge piece, an indicator, a

lever for actuating it, and a link connecting 1 the longer arm or the first lever with the second lever.

19; ln a fluid meter. the combination ot a tilting member that. includes mcrcurv containingcups and a conduit connecting the cups, conduits admitting tluid underpressure to the cups, a pivoted lever, means connecti ing the lever to the member, a second lever.

means connecting the two levers. an arm pivotallv supported and actuated bv the secmd lever, a chart. an indicator carried by the arm on one side oit its pivot. and ai'- anged to move over thc chart, and a counterbalancing means for thc arm and indicator.

Q0. ln a tluid meter, the combination of a member adapted to be moved in response to' changes in the rate ot flow of the fluid bcvingmetcrcd. a motion inultiply'ing means comprising articulated levers. means conside ot its pivot. and a countcrbalancc Vfor. the arm located on tht` side of the pivotopposite the indicator.

2l. ln a fluid meter. the, combination ot nccting one of the levers to the member. an i insignes an agent located in the main through which the tluid to be metered hows, said agent acting to create a pressure diderence responsive to changes in the rate of flow' of the fluid, a member movaole in response to changes in said pressure difference, said member comprising a bridge piece, liquid containing cups carried thereby, and a pivot. tor the bridge piece arranged intermediate the cups. means connecting the agent and thc cups, an indicator, and a. motion multiplving means for tansmitting movements oi the member to the indicator, said means being conneetedt'o one end of the bridge piece.

252. ln a fluid meter, the combination ot" a member adapted to be moved in response to changes in the. 'ate of flow ot the vtluid being metered. an indicator. a motion multiplying means tor transmitting movements ot the member to the indicator, an element sensitive to changes in pressure, and means wherebv said clement imposes a. greater or vless opposition to movements of the memlbci' as the pressure changes.

Q3. ln a fluid meter, the combination ot' a member adapted to be moved in response to changes in the rate ot flow ot the tluid being metered. an indicator. means compri.'- ing articulated levers for transmitting movements o t the member to the indicator, a device sensitive to pressure changes of the tiuid being inetered,.and means wherebyv said device acts on one of said levers to impose a greater or less opposition to movements ot the member. Y

Q4. ln a tluid meter, the combination of a member adapted to be moved in response to changes in the rate of flow of the fluid being metered. an indicator, a motion multiplying means for transmitting movements ot the member to the indicator. and a pressure correction device comprising an agent sensitive to changes in the pressure ot the fluid, and means whereby said agent acts on the portion ot the motion multiplving device having the greatest movement to impose a greater or less opposition to the movements ot the member.

95. ln a fluid meter. the combination or a member adapted to be moved in response to changes in the rate of tlow of the fluid being metered. an indicator. a. means for transmitting motion from the member to the indicator which includes a pivoted element, a weight whose opposition to movement of the member increases as said weight is moved troni its initial position, a` llexible means tor suspending the weight, the. axis ot. which in the condition ot the iluid. i

QG. Ilu aV tiuid meter. the combination of aV fil .it'inloi'ii' adapted to be nioi'ca in clfingcn iii in@ i'atc ot 'flou' of llio liuid tici.- iiietciied, an. indicatoi'means whereby tlic iiicinliei' actiiatcs @lic indicator, incans that, opposes til@ min'eiiient ot' tlie incnilic as tlio lattci" movi-is :troni its initial iioaition. and a iloi'icc Sensitiv@ to cliangcs in the piofisui'c of lilo linid benin' inclci'cd ivliicli i'ai'ica llio cil'eciii'c action (iliSaid moans on izlie nieinlioi'.

Si'. iiv a fluid nielci'. flic coniliinalinn of a nicnibf ,ai'iaiiited to lic nioi'ctl in ifcSnoiise to "liaiiljeiK iii the rato (it llnu' of ilu' l'luid being' nioifci'od. an. iiidicatoi.'v` means ii'lici'olij; the inciiilici' actuatef; tluiindicatoi, a ii'cifliiv thaty opposera ic nioi'cincnl; ol til@ incinlici in ono dii'cctioinmeans foi' auspcniling the weight. and a device .aiiisitii'o to tli@ pi'csaui'e ot iluid tot' i'aisiiiig; and lowering' tlic Weight tln'ougli Said auaiiension inc-anis.

in a iiiiid inetei', tiie combination of a nicnilicif adapted to lie n'iovcd `in i'caponsc to chang-jess in tlic ia'tc of tlow ot the iliiid boing' inctc'cd, an indica toi' tliat is actuatcd by Said nicinliei', a weight. a ioxili'le medium by Wiiifsli tlic weight, ia saispindcd, incans ii'iiei'cliy tlio weight opposel tlic inoveuicnt n 7 'the incinbiii' in a `Lii'cii dii-action, a` diuin ifm' iifiiidi'ug' and unwinding .Qaid niodiuni, and av dovice sinsitive to pi'esin'o iin' inoving' tlio di'iini.

25). in a fluid inetcic, tlic combination oF a nicinliei' adapted to no moved in i'csnonsze to i'liangcfs `iii *die i'ate ot iioW of the fluid. being' inctcicd. andindicatorynieans toi' l'i'ansinitling' inol'ion Yi'oin the nicnibei' to the indicato?, a ii'cigiil: coiiiciatiingl` with said moan@4 tliat otlci-fi in'ogfi'e: aii'eii' increasing; opposi- Eion to inovcincnlal ol the ineniboi away vfi'oni its initialV position and a iii'os-Siii'o seno-itin.' i'lniico 'toi' iiiodifyingi; tlm action ot t-lie weight on tlic niciiiiiei.

I-l'. in combination, an agent located in llic inain cavia/ing the fluid to be inetei'ed iiliicli causes a iii'csaui'c ('lidci'ciic, ".ai'yiiif with cliaiigca in the 'rato of' flou'. a iiictci' coiniii'iaii if a iiici'nlici' that. ia inoi'od a grantor oi' iwf-i im nt, dciisnding upon tlie ni'efissui'e ilii'iii'cncc. conduit incaiin` connecting` tiic airont and dio nieinboi'. a ineana` opposing' inoicnioiitzw4 of tlic nicinbei' a way loin its'. initial position, and a 'pi'easiii'c i'crifionsiic de vico Wliicli iaiica llic cliif'tivc action olf siaid inclina.

Bl. in a fluid nictci'. lili@ coinliinalion of a tilting' unanimi' liaving' inci'cui'y aina. a con duit, connccting; tlic cups. and llc'xilili connccoi's lioi' coiiici'iiilg' fluid iiiulci' ii'iissui'o to tlic cups. cai-.li oiZ said connectors living inadi of lliin tubing' lionl; to `l'oi'ni a coil. the ci'oazscction ol" cacli lliin of llic coil at tlio cnd lining' iouiid and igliat on tlia sidcS flat.

3Q. ln con'iliinatinn, an agenty 'for creating a pi'cssuro diftai'cnco sicnsitive to the rato of [low of the fluid being metered, a tilting inonibei' comprising niei'cui'jf containing l conduit. ziinectingigillin cupacondnits Coiiwiiinfl' ilaid undef pi'essni'e Ai'oi'n tlie agrcut to llic inni'cui),VY cupS iiiolion .multiplying' incans includingl articulated lcvei'a coniicclnd to and moved by the incinlici. a cliai't,I a incans ffii' moving' it. an indicator. :in ai'iii cai'i'it-d lii' tlie lci'ci' lia ving' tlic greatt'i' nio-- tion ii'liicli supports. tlic indicator. inain and. auxiliary ii'eigjlits cai'i'iid lijf the inst iianicd levci' foi' countci'lialancing the ai'ni and iin catoi, :i uiai'iciiiligil wciglitz tliai'; oppone?, niovcininty oi,5 llio indiczitoi away .i initial paaition. incaiis. toi? suspeiidn' ivciglit on said lci'ci, and means Sciiaif@ lin i'ii'osaui'o foi' i'aisiing; and lowiii'ing lilic ii'ciglit the i-ii'easui'c cliriiiglc.

S33. lin a fluid inctoi', the combination oli a. niovalile incinlioi'. ineaiis a fling' in i'csponao 'to clianii'i'a in tlia i'atii of llowof l'lio fiuid boina' iiictcicd 'loi' moving7 naid nii'riiiiioi'., a diiif'icc opposing' tlie inovcn'iciils of li bci'. and a moan;4 y@oiaitive to a cond tlio tlnid being nit-termi iaoi' varying' tlio oi'- ilcctii'c action oli the dci'icc on Said nicinnci'.

Sill'. in a Huid inctoi'. tlin coniliiiialiion oi" a incinlici adapted to ii@ inoicd in i'caiiiinso to cliangcs in. tlio i'atc ot' How ot tilio Huid lining' nictci'i'd, an indi 'aim'.y incans 'iioi' lianainititiiig` inotion l'i'oin the inoinliei' to the inilicatoi'3 a. -ii'cig'lit which opposes'. lllie ti'ansniitting ol" inolion b i' tlic uu'inliez' to the i1i- (licatoi, and a doi'ica foi' iiioif'iiig' the Weight in a iiiaiinci' lo Chango its oil'ectivc opnos. tion lo llux inovcnicnta of t-lie incnibci' 'ti'oin' itS initial position.

35. in a llliid inctci', tlic conilfiination of a tilting' incinlici. moans .t'oi1 tilting;r tlie incinlici'. a inain imei" which cxl'cnda across die loi) ol: said ineinliei', inc-ins connccling' one ond ol tn@A lci'ci' with the incinlici'.y a Second lcici' loi-i lcd below tlio iiiaiii levain moans aonncclingr the two lii'ci'a. and a pi 'Gialli' iunpoi'tcil ai'in cai'i'icd by the Sestini. lawn'. said ai'in cxtcniling Substantially 'i iiancl with the, inain lcitii.

3G, in a iluid incita', the combination o* a tilting` nienilicif coinpiiaing a bridge piece, fluid ciinlzainiiig unna, and a conduit coiiiiocting' tlie cups, and conduits for admitting fluid undci. pi'cssui'o to the cups` with a inaiii 'ufvci' Wliii'li cxteiidaSubstantially iiai'alltil to tlio bridge picco, means i301' connecting tlio tilting nicinl'ici Witli one end of lili@ lever, a second level'. incanaA connecting tlic two lavora. ono ai'ni of l'lic second level' extending 

